"The Wheel" is from a series
of works called "The Burden That Is Me". That
series had its roots and was intermingled in my thoughts
in a variety of forms after participating in a two-person
exhibit with Marcel Chirnoga, a Romanian artist, in
Houston in 1983. His two-dimensional imagery of biomorphic
beasts of burden was a metaphor for his people under
communism. It fixed in my memory, and launched my desire
to follow my own ideas into a sculptural expression
with a parallel theme. I had no idea at that time what
was to transpire within ten years.

The central image of my series was a
stylized bull towing a large wheel. Initially, it took
form in pencil sketches, prior to moving to Russia.
It was my initial response to the fall of numerous communist
regimes in the late 80s and early 90s. In May 1993,
after the move to Moscow, the image manifested in sculptural
form, then paintings and more sculpture throughout 1994
and 1995. In early 1996 the culmination of the series
was completed for my exhibit at the Russian State Museum
in St. Petersburg, "The Wheel". This piece
and the total of "The Burden That is Me" series
represented my personal difficulties in adapting to
my new life and more importantly it speaks of the many
problems transition has placed on Russian society as
a whole.

At this writing progress is everywhere
in Moscow; although much work still needs to be done.

"The Burden's" reflects
the vulnerability and the weight that the on-going change
has on this ancient country and her people. It is my
burden to express what I know and the viewer's burden
to understand the human predicament. Ultimately, it
is my goal to take my fortune in lessons from Russia;
and share those lessons about a situation that has become
a part of my heart.